Featuring
nearly 40 classic arcade titles, Taito Legends 2 on the PS2 delivers a
comprehensive cross-section from gaming's golden age. Early titles like
Crazy Balloon and Qix deliver simple fun while later releases like
G-Darius and Ray Force offer intense shooter action. There are also
several puzzle games, like Cleopatra Fortune and Puzzle Bobble 2, along
with obscurities like Arabian Magic and Metal Back so this release should
appeal to a broad array of gamers. Each game's emulation is nearly
flawless and the game also offers some impressive extras. Read on and find
out why this is one of the best compilations to date.

The first volume of classic Taito arcade
games was one of the more impressive and balanced compilations released on
the PS2 and while North American gamers have waited a long time for this
second volume to be released, it has finally arrived and the delay has
been worthwhile. Taito Legends 2 features an even larger selection of 39
classic titles ranging from the late 70's to 90's including well-known
franchises like Space Invaders and Elevator Action to obscurities like
Cameltry, Kuri Kinton, Bonze Adventure, Puchi Carat, Gekirindan, Raimais,
Kiki Kaikai and, more. The genres covered in this installment range from
classic early 80's games like Qix and Lunar Rescue, to shooters like
G-Darius, Darius Gaiden, Metal Back, Gun Frontier and side scrolling
platform titles like Dungeon Magic and Nastar. Players will also find a
good selection of puzzle titles like Cameltry, Puzzle Bobble 2 and even a
couple of oddities like the soccer title Hat Trick Hero and Front Line.
There are three versions of Space Invaders on the compilation Space
Invaders DX, Super Space Invaders 91 and Space Invaders '95. Each of these
versions stays fairly true to the original game, which is included in DX
as well, but adds comical and humorous characters, power-ups and different
wave configurations to keep things interesting. Taito Legends 2 also
includes several Bubble Bobble spin-offs like Liquid Kids and The
Fairlyland Story which should make fans of that style of gameplay happy.
There's an abundance of side-scrolling action platformers as well with the
excellent and under-rated Growl leading off the pack. Another solid entry
is Nastar, the side scrolling follow-up to Rastan Saga which offers more
of the same satisfying gameplay that made the original so much fun. Plenty
of obscurities abound in this pack, and it's quite cool to play the weird
yet appealing Japanese titles on the disc, with titles like Puchi Carat,
Raimas and Kiki KaiKai giving the package a distinct flavor that many of
the mainstream compilations seem to lack.

Although
there are a number of well-known games on the disc, there are also a few
clever obscurities like Cameltry, where you have to spin the screen
around, that serve as pleasant surprises with ingenious controls and
gameplay that seem to come out of nowhere. TL 2 has a number of these
games that seem very different and unique by today's standards. Another
standout title is Puchi Carat which takes off on Breakout with classic
controls and weird power-ups to create a strangely addictive and weird
game. The use of anime characters gives this a strangely appealing feel as
well. Sqvalion has a strange name and an even stranger concept: you
control a mechanical dragon and try and navigate a maze while avoiding
enemies. It seems strange at first but once you get accustomed to its
unusual approach and controls, you'll find this to be one of the more
enjoyable games on the disc. One of the more challenging and interesting
games is also one of the earliest. Despite its somewhat primitive
graphics, Crazy Balloon offers one of the more difficult games. The object
is to move a balloon through a maze without hitting the sides, which
causes you to lose a life immediately. This is actually much more
challenging than it appears and makes for simple, yet very difficult at
points gameplay. These represent a small fraction of the 'hidden gems' on
Taito Legends 2, which goes a long way in explaining why it should be
pleasing for classic game fans.

Of course, not everything on Taito
Legends 2 is either obscure or weird. One of the best titles on the disc,
which is almost worth the price of admission alone is Elevator Action
Returns, which updates the classic spy platformer with grittier graphics
and more interesting level design. Those who missed out on this during its
original release on the PS1 will find this to be one of the more
successful updates of a classic game, which is almost a classic in itself.
Another solid classic title is Front Line, which definitely feels like a
prototype of later games like Ikari Warriors. The controls for this one
are pretty good as well with the Dual Shock's analog sticks used to move
and aim your gun, which allows you to actually play the game effectively.
Fans of the classic Qix who complained about its absence from the first
Taito Legends will be happy to know that it's here in its original form
and remains one of the most engaging, challenging and simple games ever
made. Ironically, the game's stripped down graphics and minimalist design
remains quite appealing and trumps the more elaborate, yet aesthetically
dismal follow-ups. Fans of classic style horizontally and vertically
scrolling shooters will also be pleased to find an abundance of these
games here. Of course, G-Darius and Darius Gaiden are the headliners here,
but players will also find several obscurities like Insector X, Grid
Seeker, Metal Back and Gun Frontier which offer hours of 2D classic,
addictive play for those with itchy trigger fingers. These are all very
much in the classic mold, but this edition goes a little bit further by
including Ray Storm, the all 3D and excellent update to the classic Ray
Force. There are definitely some themes that emerge as you go through the
games, and part of the fun is exploring and discovering each of the games
on this package.

Obviously,
it wouldn't be fair to judge the games' graphics against current
standards, but the titles here are perfectly emulated and recreate the
look and feel of the original titles flawlessly. Using the standard PS2
controller provides excellent controls, but for added authenticity,
playing with an arcade joystick makes for an even more robust experience.
While the list of titles is extensive, one disappointment in the game is
its lack of extras. Instead of elaborate arcade artwork or sales flyers,
the game doesn't offer much beyond standard information and fairly
innocuous game tips. However, these are minor complaints compared to what
is included. When you combine this release with the original Taito
Legends, you have a two-disc set encompassing nearly 70 classic arcade
titles. When you consider that both volumes come in at $20.00 or even
less, it represents an even better value. While the quality and depth of
the games vary, most classic gamers should find many titles to enjoy
through the extensive selection of titles. The only problem with Taito
Legends 2 is that its extras aren't as elaborate as one would like.
However, given it's deep array of titles and the high-quality emulation,
there's really little room to complain. For classic gamers, the selection
and depth included on the disc are quite impressive and make this an
essential purchase for anyone who loves classic arcade games.
Grade:
B-